Aldi has once again been named Britain’s cheapest supermarket, extending its winning run to seven consecutive months in the latest Which? price comparison.
The consumer organisation compared the average prices of 93 everyday grocery products throughout July, with Aldi coming in at £158.05. Lidl was a close second at £160.70, just £2.65 more expensive.
Asda was the cheapest of the traditional major supermarket groups, at £185.81.
The results underline the continuing strength of the German discounters in Britain’s highly competitive grocery market.
Aldi keeps the lead
Aldi’s £158.05 basket was £2.65 cheaper than Lidl, while the gap with Asda was much larger at £27.76.
At the other end of the table, Waitrose recorded an average basket price of £226.95, £68.90 more than Aldi — a difference of about 44%.
The Which? comparison included both branded and own-label products, with prices tracked throughout the month. The organisation says it includes promotions and loyalty prices where applicable, but not multibuys.
Lidl remains close behind
The small difference between Aldi and Lidl is perhaps the most significant part of the latest results.
Just £2.65 separated the two retailers, demonstrating how closely the discounters are competing for Britain’s price-conscious shoppers.
Aldi has nevertheless maintained its advantage for seven consecutive months in the current comparison.
The figures also show how far the discounters have moved ahead of some of the established supermarket groups on a basket-price basis.
Sainsbury’s with Nectar came in at £187.86, while Tesco with Clubcard was £188.45. Without loyalty pricing, Tesco and Morrisons were both at £195.63.
Loyalty prices narrow the difference
The comparison also highlights the growing importance of supermarket loyalty schemes.
Sainsbury’s Nectar price reduced the July basket to £187.86, while Tesco’s Clubcard price brought its basket down to £188.45.
Which? recorded 48 loyalty discounts across its July comparison — 25 at Sainsbury’s and 23 at Tesco.
That means consumers who use loyalty schemes can access significantly different prices from shoppers paying the standard shelf price.
The bigger picture
The latest figures come at a time when British shoppers remain highly sensitive to grocery prices.
Which? reported that grocery inflation had eased to 2.6% in the four weeks to 12 July, but the cumulative cost of food continues to rise. The average household spent £5,530 on groceries over the previous 12 months, £156 more than in the comparable period a year earlier.
That helps explain why Aldi and Lidl continue to attract attention.
The discounters do not need to convince consumers that every product is the cheapest individually. Their competitive advantage comes from creating the perception — and, according to the latest Which? basket comparison, the reality — that a complete everyday shop can cost less.
Pressure on the big supermarkets
The continued performance of Aldi and Lidl creates a difficult environment for the established supermarket groups.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons have responded with price-match campaigns, loyalty discounts and greater investment in own-label products.
But the latest Which? figures show that the discounters continue to set a powerful benchmark.
Aldi’s seven-month run is therefore more than another monthly ranking. It demonstrates how strongly price has become embedded in British grocery competition.
For shoppers, the message is straightforward: when it comes to the cost of a basket of everyday groceries, Aldi remains the supermarket to beat — and Lidl is only £2.65 behind.